MADISON, Wis. – Top-seeded Martin Luther (24-3) cruised into the championship game with 96-61 win over Northwestern in the Division 3 semifinals of the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Trequan Carrington scored a Division 3 State Tournament record with 41 points to lead the Spartans to a Division 3 team record for points scored in a game.
The Tigers scored first in the game, but it was the only lead they would possess. The Spartans opened up a 16-2 advantage at the 13:03 mark. Northwestern’s marksmanship from beyond the arc cut their deficit to six at 23-17, but that’s the closest the Tigers would get the rest of the way. The Spartans led 46-31 at the half and by as many as 35 points in the second half.
The Spartans had a large advantage in points scored in the paint at 64-12, and Tigers were dependent from outside, hitting 13 three-pointers, which is one short of the Division 3 State record.
Ace Evans also scored in double figures for the Spartans with 21 points. Xzavier Jones led the team in both rebounds and assists with six and four, respectively. Carrington also led the Spartans on defense with a game-high six steals. The Spartans committed only two turnovers in the game.
Brody Payton led the Tigers with 19 points and six rebounds. Andrew Klobucher was the only other player in double figures for Northwestern with 11 points.
Northwestern (21-6) ends the season at the State Tournament with its fourth appearance, and the Spartans advance to the finals attempting to win their first title.
Second-seeded Waupun (26-1) defeated Denmark 60-43 in the other Division 3 semifinal Thursday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
The Warriors never trailed in the game. The game was tied three times in the first half, but Waupun used a 9-2 run at the end of the first half to take a 32-24 lead into the locker room at intermission. The Warriors went on a 10-0 run in the second half to take build an 18-point advantage and led by as many as 19 points down the stretch.
Marcus Domask led the Warriors with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds. He also dished out a game-high five assists, and he led the defense with three steals and two blocks. Trevor VandeZande added 14 points.
Denmark was led by Zane Short with 16 points and eight rebounds. Patrick Suemnik contributed 11 points for the Vikings, who were outscored in the paint by the Warriors 42-24.
Denmark (22-5) was eliminated from title contention in the Vikings’ fourth State appearance, and the Warriors return to the title tilt since winning the championship in 2016.
Semifinals: Thursday, March 14 - 1:35pm
#1 Martin Luther (24-3) 96, #4 Northwestern (21-6) 61 - stats
#2 Waupun (26-1) 60, vs #3 Denmark (22-5) 43 - stats